GRAND FORKS – Capital projects in Grand Forks Public Schools took center stage at Superintendent Terry Brenner’s annual community address.
New construction and renovation projects across the district were a focal point of Brenner’s breakfast address, which he delivered before a crowd of city and community leaders early Thursday at the Alerus Center ballroom.
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He gave a shoutout to the principal architects and contractors on the new Valley Middle School, Career Impact Academy and Nathan Twining Elementary and Middle School, and later held a series of mini-interviews on stage with administrators associated with those four projects.
Brenner also highlighted some of the $18 million in safety and security upgrades across the district and told participants the district was close to installing up-to-date HVAC in all of its classrooms, which he said has been a goal since he became superintendent six years ago.
“We still have a little more to be done, but in the next year or two we should have those projects wrapped up,” he said of the HVAC renovations.
On academics, he reiterated plans to boost the district’s test scores in math and reading, and noted it had already topped a goal to increase Native American graduation rates.
“While we’re slightly at or above state averages, we’re not satisfied,” Brenner said.
He also thanked Red River and Central principals Kris Arason and Jon Strandell for their work to curb chronic absenteeism and said their plan was “leading to results.”
The morning event also repeatedly saluted district students.
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Red River's Rider Jazz Band and Madrigal Singers opened the event, and Brenner’s remarks were preceded by a parade of champions featuring members of the district’s cybersecurity competition team, Red River’s boys and girls golf teams, boys hockey team, girls track and field, state champions from Central in track and field, swimming and tennis, as well as the school district’s five National Merit Scholars.
Attendees were also treated to a violin performance by Red River senior Gabe Sagini, a member of Carnegie Hall’s 2024 National Youth Orchestra.
Brenner briefly joked about email spam affecting the school district; he explained later to the Herald that the district’s IT director had run a phishing test in the last two weeks that around 19% of employees had failed.
At one point, he went off-script to discuss how the school district’s population had changed in his time in Grand Forks.
Brenner noted the district had shed thousands of students after the Flood of 1997 and downsizing at Grand Forks Air Force Base before rebounding to a 21-year population high.
“That’s a tribute to people coming to Grand Forks, and wanting to be a part of Grand Forks Public Schools and the Greater Grand Forks community,” Brenner said. “This entire entire room has some skin in the game to make Grand Forks and Grand Forks Air Force Base school districts a lighthouse district of choice for students and staff.”
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